and failed to record a win for the first time since 1984. However, he did set another record, becoming the longest-tenured player in Japanese baseball history with 27 seasons completed, breaking Katsuya Nomura's record of 26 seasons. A new personal best for appearances was in order for Kudoh in 2009, in what was also his final season with Yokohama and 28th overall. Used as a situational lefty, Kudoh did not have much success, as he went 2–3 with a 6.51 ERA and the cagey veteran also managed to strike out 24 batters in innings. 2010: Saitama Seibu Lions Knowing that he did not have much left, Kudoh decided to return to where it all began for the 2010 season. Also in a career first for him, he did not take his signature #47, but instead took #55, as his number was taken by another Seibu lefty, Kazuyuki Hoashi. Kudoh had a small role in an injury-riddled Lions bullpen, but was ineffective again, as he went 0–2 with a 10.50 ERA in 10 appearances and just six innings. He did, however, extend his streak for the longest career in NPB history at 29 seasons. He was released at the end of the season. After the season, Kudoh once again had surgery on his left shoulder and was nursing a calf injury. Despite all of that, he still expressed a desire pitch for a team. Kudoh was not signed and did not play in the 2011 season. He was courted by Yokohama to be a player-manager, but ended up not taking the job. He officially announced his retirement from baseball on December 9, 2011, at 48 years of age. Managing career In 2015, Kudo was hired to be the manager of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to succeed former Lions and Hawks teammate Koji Akiyama, who retired from the position after winning the 2014 Japan Series. In his first six seasons, he has managed the Hawks to five Japan Series titles in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Under Kudoh's stewardship, SoftBank won the title for the second consecutive season in 2015 over the Yakult Swallows. Outfielder Yuki Yanagita won the Pacific League MVP and the batting title. It also marked the first time since the Seibu Lions won three in a row from 1990 to 1992, the teams that Kudoh was also a member of, that an organization had won consecutive Japan